Revealing their role in modern agriculture

Agricultural biostimulants are derived from a variety of materials, from algae extracts to beneficial fungi or bacteria.

Biostim­u­lants are applied to plants, seeds or soils to improve plant nutrient efficiency, improve plant toler­ances and increase plant quality and yields.

These innov­ative active ingre­dients are revolu­tion­izing green farming methods. By studying the benefits of biostim­u­lants, we can uncover how these powerful tools are shaping agriculture, improving plant health and resilience with remarkable precision.

The role of biostimulants in agriculture

Biostim­u­lants transcend the tradi­tional bound­aries of fertil­izers and pesti­cides and offer a glimpse into the future of agriculture. These important tools open up new ways to improve plant growth and protect environ­mental resources. Accord­ingly Dr. Eduardo Lopes Cancellier, ICL’s biostim­ulant agronomy specialist “Biostim­u­lants improve the natural processes of a plant, which are often not used suffi­ciently,” and further empha­sizes: “By using biostim­u­lants, we not only improve the resilience of plants, but also actively contribute to a more sustainable agricul­tural model.”

Biostim­u­lants play a diverse role. They provide a sustainable solution to improve plant health and produc­tivity by improving nutrient efficiency, increasing tolerance to abiotic stresses and improving crop quality traits. without the addition of nutrients or pesti­cides. Here’s how they make a difference:

Improve nutrient efficiency: Biostim­u­lants help reduce the overall consumption of chemical fertil­izers. These active ingre­dients optimize nutrient uptake and ensure plants get the most out of available resources, reducing input costs and minimizing environ­mental impact as plants use available nutrients more efficiently.

Increase tolerance to abiotic stress: Biostim­u­lants help plants survive environ­mental stresses such as drought, extreme temper­a­tures and salinity. This capability is crucial for maintaining crop yields in difficult climatic condi­tions and helps ensure food security in vulnerable regions.

Improve the quality charac­ter­istics of plants: The appli­cation of biostim­u­lants leads to an improvement in the quality of products, including better taste, texture and nutri­tional value. Improved quality benefits consumers and increases the marketability of agricul­tural products as well as additional economic benefits for farmers.

Benefits of biostimulants

Biostim­u­lants help plants produce more with less. This trans­for­mative vision provides solutions that benefit farmers, consumers and the planet. By under­standing the benefits, we can see how biostim­u­lants build a more resilient, sustainable agricul­tural system that supports both today’s needs and tomor­row’s challenges.

ICL Group, a global leader in specialty minerals, exemplifies this shift with its innov­ative Bioz product line, specif­i­cally designed to improve different phases of plant devel­opment and increase overall plant perfor­mance. Your seed treat­ments improve early growth and root devel­opment, creating a solid foundation for healthy plants. The Bioz range also excels at improving flowering and fruit set, which is crucial for maximizing crop yields. These biostim­u­lants have shown remarkable effects on increasing fruit size, weight and quality, including improving the nutri­tional content of tomatoes.

Types of biostimulants

Diversity is the hallmark of biostim­u­lants, each tailored to unlock the potential of plants in a unique way. Industry leaders use natural sources to create products that have a signif­icant impact on agricul­tural produc­tivity and sustain­ability. From the depths of the ocean to the richness of the soil, the sources of biostim­u­lants are as diverse as their appli­ca­tions.

Biostim­u­lants come in different forms, each using natural processes to support plant growth: organic biostim­u­lants, microbial biostim­u­lants and inorganic biostim­u­lants, each of which signif­i­cantly contributes to increasing agricul­tural produc­tivity. Through a combi­nation of biological processes, each biostim­ulant is tailored to increase plant vitality and endurance. By unlocking these mecha­nisms, crops can be enabled to thrive and achieve remarkable growth even under adverse environ­mental condi­tions.

Regulatory and market considerations

As the biostim­u­lants market thrives, navigating the regulatory and commercial environment becomes increas­ingly important. This emerging field promises growth with innova­tions that are trans­forming agricul­tural practices worldwide. Leading agricul­tural industry companies such as ICL Group are actively involved in shaping these regula­tions to ensure that biostim­u­lants meet the highest standards of effec­tiveness and safety.

Diploma

The journey of biostim­u­lants in agriculture is just beginning and their promise is vast and inspiring. As we continue to research and innovate, these active ingre­dients will play a critical role in sustainably trans­forming agricul­tural practices. The future offers biostim­u­lants the oppor­tunity to redefine what it means to grow green in the modern world.